Jessica Middleton-Pugh

St Michael’s director Gary Neville has said that the massing of the scheme and uses haven’t changed, just “the clothes the building is wearing”, after telling architect Stephen Hodder to “challenge yourself” with the façade design.

After the major overhaul of plans earlier this year, swapping architect Make for Hodder, going from two towers to one, and retaining the historic elements on site, Neville said that he was confident the proposals were now in their final form, aside from tweaks to the lay-out of food and beverage units.

The development team is targeting 10 November to complete the application, which was put on hold in March to allow for the changes to the project, and is aiming to be included in Manchester City Council’s February planning committee.

The distinctive Lozenge shape of the tower which was revealed in August has remained, but will be clad in “sculpted vertical piers to produce a faceted arrangement in bronze anodized aluminium”, according to Hodder. “The finished product will be remarkable,” he said.

Hodder’s solo tower at St Michael’s, revealed in August

St Michael’s has previously been given a £200m development value. The St Michael’s partnership is made up of directors and ex-footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, Manchester City Council, developer Brendan Flood, Singaporean funder Rowsley, and Beijing Construction Engineering Group. Zerum is planning advisor.

According to Neville, funder Rowsley “is willing to pay for high-quality design” and the revised scheme “remains within the funding boundaries”. However, Hodder said that “the sculpting and cutting will make it more expensive” than earlier iterations.

Overall, the scheme will include residential, hotel, offices, public realm, a new synagogue, and f&b outlets, with the Abercromby pub and the façade of Bootle Street Police Station incorporated. If approved, Neville is targeting a 2018 start on site with contractor BCEGI.

Still looks overly dominant given its position to me, from the limited view points put forward, and I personally don’t like the design. Reminds me of the old BT concrete design in Stoke-on-Trent. Real progress made from the first proposals though.

I am an advocate of tall buildings and would be championing this build if it wasn’t so wide! It looks out of proportion with it’s surroundings (not because of height but width). Quite disappointing in my opinion.